Alternative Provision Lead

South Gloucestershire Council; Yate; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Wellbeing support

Staff discounts

Job summary

South Gloucestershire Council is seeking an experienced lead officer for Alternative Provision to shape and oversee a coherent AP system. You will work with schools, health partners and SEND services to ensure AP is used effectively, lawfully and to promote inclusion and reintegration of vulnerable children.

The role requires QTS, a degree, and substantial leadership experience in education, SEND or commissioning, with a focus on outcomes and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Essential you hold QTS and a degree-level qualification.
• Substantial leadership experience within education, inclusion, SEND, safeguarding or commissioning.
• Strong understanding of AP, Section 19 duties and SEND legislation.
• Experience leading improvement, quality assurance or commissioning for vulnerable children and young people.
• Ability to build effective partnerships and influence practice across organisations.
• Demonstrating commitment to inclusive education with strategic thinking and delivery focus.
• Postgraduate qualification and experience leading AP/SEND reform desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction to ensure high-quality support for those who cannot access mainstream education.
• Develop and implement South Gloucestershire's AP Strategy.
• Lead governance, commissioning, QA and placement oversight.
• Chair and coordinate multi-agency processes to support at-risk students.
• Ensure AP is safe, high quality and enables reintegration where appropriate.
• Provide professional leadership and challenge to schools and partners on AP use.
• Use performance data and stakeholder feedback to drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Governance & commissioning

AP/SEND knowledge

Data-driven improvement

Partnership building

Education leadership

Education

QTS

Degree-level qualification

Postgraduate qualification (desirable)

Job description

How you'll make a difference

As the lead officer for Alternative Provision (AP), you will play a pivotal role in shaping and strengthening the strategic development, quality assurance and operational oversight of a coherent and sustainable AP system that promotes early intervention, successful reintegration and positive outcomes for vulnerable children and young people, ensuring they receive the right support, in the right place, at the right time.

Working alongside schools, trusts, health partners, social care and SEND services, you will ensure that AP is used effectively, lawfully and as part of a graduated approach to inclusion.

What you will be doing

• As an experienced leader, you will provide strategic direction to ensure high-quality, inclusive and effective support for those who cannot access mainstream education full time.
• Using your expertise, you will develop and implement South Gloucestershire's AP Strategy.
• You will lead governance, commissioning, quality assurance and placement oversight arrangements.
• To support those at risk of exclusion or unable to attend school, you will chair and coordinate multi-agency processes.
• It will be your responsibility to ensure AP is safe, high quality, focused on positive outcomes and supports successful reintegration wherever appropriate.
• You will provide professional leadership and challenge to schools and partners on the effective and appropriate use of AP.
• Using performance data, stakeholder feedback and evidence, you will drive continuous improvement and inform strategic decision-making.

What we need from you

• It is essential you hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a degree-level qualification.
• You must have substantial leadership experience within education, inclusion, SEND, safeguarding or commissioning.
• We require you to have a strong understanding of AP, Section 19 duties and SEND legislation.
• You will have experience of leading improvement, quality assurance or commissioning activity for vulnerable children and young people.
• Given the nature of this role, you must be able to build effective partnerships and influence practice across organisations.
• Demonstrating a strong commitment to inclusive education, you will combine strategic thinking with a focus on delivery, impact and continuous improvement.
• A postgraduate qualification and experience of leading AP, SEND reform or inclusion programmes within a local authority or Multi-Academy Trust would be desirable.

What you need to know

• Please note that due to the nature of this role, it is a requirement of employment that an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is obtained.

Interviews will be held on 23rd October 2026.

How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different

• As part of our benefits package, you will receive generous annual leave (pro rata), employee wellbeing support and you will have access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities.
• We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities.
• If you want to develop a specialism, you’ll get the support you need and your cases will be aligned with your areas of expertise.
• We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Ensuring all our staff are given right skills, knowledge and support to recognise and respond effectively to potential abuse or neglect.

Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.

• We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of.
• We're working with the most vulnerable in our community to help them achieve what they want in life.
• We're investing in our schools to ensure every child and young person in South Gloucestershire achieves their full potential.

We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference.

We’re making a difference, be part of it!